PRE-TRAINING CAMP: Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick said he has been cleared to return to action, and he talked about the back injury he suffered in the final weeks of the 2011-12 regular season, the surgery he had to correct the problem, and his recovery. Also includes audio interviews and a photo gallery from the January 8 informal skate.

LA Kings goalie Jonathan Quick stretches out to make a glove save
during an informal skate at the Toyota Sports Center
in El Segundo, California on January 8, 2013.
Photo: David Sheehan

EL SEGUNDO, CA — As the National Hockey League lockout finally begins to fizzle out, with ratification of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) by NHL owners and players expected to be completed sometime this weekend, players throughout the league are making their way back to their teams, and are getting out on the ice as quickly as possible, even though, technically, the lockout continues.

COMMENTARY: The labor dispute between the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players Association is nearing its 100th day, and the two sides are not only miles apart in their positions on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, no negotiating sessions are on the horizon whatsoever. Meanwhile, the two sides are heading for litigation. Here are some thoughts and analysis regarding why we’ve reached this point.

FROZEN ROYALTY EXCLUSIVE: In the fifth installment of a series focusing on the broadcasters of the Los Angeles Kings, they shared their thoughts on the current labor strife between the National Hockey League owners and the National Hockey League Players Association during interviews recorded prior to the September 15 lockout imposed by the owners.

LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — National Hockey League players should already be hard at work at their respective training camps, but they are noticeably absent from team practice rinks. Instead, more and more of them are heading overseas to play in Europe or the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia, while they wait for NHL owners and the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) to reach a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Indeed, the players are biding their time, waiting for an end to the league-imposed lockout, the NHL’s fourth work stoppage since 1992.

Like the players, so many are waiting, including team management, coaches, trainers and equipment staff, team staff, and, of course, fans.

Among those waiting are television and radio broadcasters throughout the league, including the long-time broadcasters of the Los Angeles Kings.

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